Photo processing and quality.
Handling, stabilization and size.
Build, external flash shoe/viewfinder mount and lenses.
Reputation.
Warranty.

Cost.

Having tired of carrying my DSLR and associated gear, I decided to go to a Point and Shoot (P&S) camera. My last camera was a Nikon D-60. Having used a full sized sensor I was concerned with loosing picture quality by going to a P&S. My most pressing concern, was to get as close to the superior photo quality of a DSLR full sized sensor as possible, in a P&S.

I finally decided on the Leica due to superior photo quality and excellent in-camera jpeg processing. I looked at:

- Nikon P7000...mixed but generally lower reviews within this group (I have owned a number of/and greatly respect Nikons)

- Panasonic LX5...which many say to be the same as the Leica (with the exception of jpeg processing)

- Canon G-12...which seemed ok, with the exception of handling RAW production.

- Canon S95...not as good in the lens department and lagged in RAW photo processing.

Both the Leica and Panasonic have a larger sensor than the rest of this group. Granted, you can purchase any of these really good cameras, at a much lower price; but, I found the color, build, ergonomics and overall photo quality of the D Lux 5 to be best of the aforementioned group.

I have never owned a Leica, and I while I expected it, I was still shocked at the sticker price and cost of accessories; however, the 2 year warranty and the inclusion of Lightroom 3, helped ease the price pain.

I am very happy with this camera. It is easy to operate, provides in-camera excellent stabilization, in-camera menus are outstanding and intutive, shoots in RAW format and is easy to carry/handle. Leica accessories are expensive; but, many of the accessories that fit the Panasonic LX5; also, fit the Leica. I believe the viewfinder to be a must buy, especially if you shoot in bright daylight or snow. The Panasonic viewfinder is around $200.00 less than the Leica brand and it fits/works perfectly on my D Lux 5.

My decision to buy the Leica boiled down to quality of build/pictures and reputation. Good sites to go to, in addition to this one, for more info are: stevehuffphoto.com; DPReview; CNET; bhphotovideo.com; snapshot.com; youtube and if you want to look at actual photos, taken by everyday users of the Leica D Lux 5, see the Leica groups on Flicr.

Hope this helps

Customer Service

Haven't used. On-site registration and Lightroom download are fine.

Similar Products Used:

Coolpix L-1
Canon 720i
Nikon D 60

The camera is easy to learn, beautiful to look at, convenient in size, and a pleasure to hold. The lens is a fine one, and the photos the camera produces are crisp, clear, vivid, and bursting with detail and color. You really cannot get better shots with a larger camera, and this is what makes this model so special.

I travel heavily to very remote places where I have one chance to get fine quality photos. On a recent trip to Ecuador I got exceptional photos, and was thrilled.

For travel this is one of the great cameras. Sure, you can use this as supplementary to a larger, bulkier camera with inter-changeable lenses if you need to carry that much equipment. But you can easily make this your primary camera, and forget the heavy load.

The camera shoots quickly. Several people tried taking pictures with it, and each one waxed enthusiastic.

My summary comment is that this is the affordable Leica that they never ever managed to bring to market until now. It is an exceptional camera, dirable and sleek, and I anticipate many happy years of use. Though somewhat expensive, the price is absolutely irrelevant once you see the photos.

Leica could easily have incorporated a true optical viewfinder, but did not. This is the only downside to this very fine machine. They offer a very expensive electronic optical viewfinder as an option, but I do not have that.

With the D Lux 5, Leica has finally succeeded in producing a very fine and affordable small-sized camera. They must have gotten tired of being the left-behinds as Cann, Sony and other camera makers surpassed them year after year. I have shot for six years with A Sony DSC V-3, an astonishing workhorse of a camera with the best Zeiss lens Sony ever put into a point and shoot. And I waited until I found a camera that could surpass this one. The Leica D Lux 5 is it.

Similar Products Used:

I have used and traveled with numerous Sony cameras with Zeiss lenses. Now that Sonyis pushing their inferior "G" lenses on the market, they have lost me. I also keep a small Sony DSC-TX5 for use in wet conditions, and that does have a razor-sharp Zeiss lens. But in all but wet situations, the Leica surpasses the Sony.